Cat. No. 350/VIII, variant 5
Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
- State/Variant:
- State VIII of IX, variant
- Date:
- c. 2003
- Themes
- Fabric Works, Figures
- Techniques
- Drypoint
- Support:
- Fabric (silk)
- Dimensions:
- plate: 4 3/4 x 5 11/16" (12 x 14.5 cm); sheet: 11 x 11 5/16" (28 x 28.8 cm)
- Signature:
- Not signed
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 6 known variant impressions of state VIII on fabric
- Edition Information:
- Proof outside the illustrated book edition of state VIII on paper, and before the illustrated book edition of state IX on fabric.
This impression is part of a set of plates printed in red on silk, but none of the impressions in this set are initialed and therefore the set is not considered a completed series. There is another set of plates, from c. 2006, printed in red on paper, with no signatures. This set is also not considered to be a completed series.
There are several unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples; a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known example; and a series printed on a scarf, with plates in a different order, printed in black. (See the Evolving Composition Diagram.) The states of the plates within the various series sometimes differ from the states of the plates within the published editions.
There is 1 additional initialed impression of this composition on fabric, printed in black. It does not make up part of a series and is not reproduced due to its similarity to the impressions in the series, seen here. - Impression:
- Not numbered
- Background:
- The artist told printer Felix Harlan that the figures in this series are playing an adult version of a French children's game, known as "faire des galipettes," meaning to do somersaults. In fact, the expression "faire des galipettes" is also slang for having sex, a punning reference that Bourgeois must have enjoyed.
- Curatorial Remarks:
- In contrast to the designation "illustrated book," which contains text, this catalogue designates as a "series" those instances where there is no text accompanying a group of related plates.
- Description:
- Drypoint, with selective wiping
- State Changes and Additions:
- Changes from state VII in drypoint: female figure's hair further delineated.
- Other Remarks:
- The artist told printer Felix Harlan that the figures in this series are playing an adult version of a French children's game, known as "faire des galipettes," meaning to do somersaults.
- MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 83.2012
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Open to compare works
Select a work in the diagram below
State VIII of IX, variant
c. 2003
A
B
Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
2003-2006
States
Series
2001-2003
Series
c. 2003
Related Works in the Catalogue
Related Works in Other Mediums
Not in MoMA's Collection
Couple
2001
Not in MoMA's Collection
Couple
2001
Medium: Fabric
Dimensions: overall: 19 x 6 x 6 1/2" (48.3 x 15.2 x 16.5 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Not in MoMA's Collection
Couple
2001
Not in MoMA's Collection
Couple
2001
Medium: Fabric
Dimensions: overall: 20 x 7 x 6" (50.8 x 17.8 x 15.2 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Not in MoMA's Collection
The Couple
2007
Not in MoMA's Collection
The Couple
2007
Medium: Gouache and pencil on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 23 1/2 x 18" (59.7 x 45.7 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Not in MoMA's Collection
Le Bateau Adulte Enfant(The Laws of Nature)
1997
Not in MoMA's Collection
Le Bateau Adulte Enfant(The Laws of Nature)
1997
Medium: Ink, pencil, and correction fluid on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 9 x 22 5/8" (22.9 x 57.5 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY